Breaking News Instant updates and real-time market news.

Alaska Airlines, Virgin America and the Association of Flight Attendants announced today they have reached a tentative merger agreement for the airline's 5,400 flight attendants. The merger agreement includes competitive pay raises, increase in retirement contributions and quality of life benefits and preserves all productivity of Alaska Airlines existing contract. Alaska Airlines' flight attendants will conduct a ratification vote that is expected to be completed in April. The tentative merger agreement marks a major milestone in integrating Virgin America and Alaska Airlines flight attendants. Virgin America flight attendants joined AFA in April 2017, shortly after the merger. Next steps for this work group include combining seniority lists, cross training on Boeing and Airbus, as well as integration of crew scheduling systems, which will be completed in 2019. The existing five-year contract, which was approved by members in 2014, becomes amendable in December 2019. Alaska Airlines and AFA will begin negotiations for its first joint labor agreement later this year.

ALKAlaska Air

$66.76

-0.13 (-0.19%)

01/30/18

01/30/18DOWNGRADE

On The Fly: Top five analyst downgrades

Catch up on today's top five analyst downgrades with this list compiled by The Fly: 1. AbbVie (ABBV) downgraded to Underperform from Market Perform by analyst Alex Arfaei, who said the risk/reward has "meaningfully changed" after the rise in the stock price, adding that the new focus on fundamentals beyond the benefits of tax reform suggests "significant price erosion in immunology driven by interchangeable biosimilar anti-TNFs, and lower effectiveness of the 'Rebate Trap' to block access to cheap biosimilars". 2. iRobot (IRBT) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Sidoti by analyst Frank Camma, who cited valuation as shares approach his $98 price target. 3. Horizon Global (HZN) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at BMO Capital by analyst Gerrick Johnson, who said that while he still sees "strong demand in key end markets," operation execution, rising input costs, and high debt levels are concerning. The analyst added that the company may have "lost the faith of investors" after a 30% drop in the stock price following the guidance cut. 4. Yum! Brands (YUM) downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Nomura Instinet by analyst Mark Kalinowshi, who cited valuation and concerns a possible 2018 slowdown in U.S. same-store-sales. 5. Alaska Air (ALK) downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at JPMorgan by analyst Jamie Baker, who noted that the airline is the only name where he had to cut his 2019 estimates. He also believes the company "remains in the United crosshairs in San Francisco." The analyst also downgraded Southwest (LUV) to Neutral from Overweight, and said he believes better relative value exists elsewhere in the Airlines sector. This list is just a portion of The Fly's full analyst coverage. To see The Fly's full Street Research coverage, click here.

01/30/18

JPMS

01/30/18DOWNGRADETarget $67JPMSUnderweight

Alaska Air downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at JPMorgan

JPMorgan analyst Jamie Baker downgraded Alaska Air Group (ALK) to Underweight and lowered his price target for the shares to $67 from $74. The analyst notes that Alaska Air is the only name where he had to cut his 2019 estimates. He also believes the company "remains in the United crosshairs in San Francisco." Alaska is also slightly more expensive than JetBlue on 2019 earnings, Baker tells investors in a research note. The analyst this morning also Southwest (LUV) to Neutral and upgraded both JetBlue (JBLU) and United Continental (UAL) to Overweight.

01/26/18

COWN

01/26/18NO CHANGECOWN

Airline sector weakness a buying opportunity, says Cowen

Cowen analyst Helane Becker noted airline stocks came under pressure as investors grew concerned about capacity growth by United Continental (UAL) and fears it would destroy the fare structure. The analyst noted the capacity growth is in small markets where they might make a difference but that RASM is up year-over-year. Becker would be a buyer of Alaska Air (ALK), Delta Air (DAL), American Airlines (AAL) and Southwest Air (LUV) on the pullback, but would avoid United Continental shares.

01/10/18

01/10/18DOWNGRADE

On The Fly: Top five analyst downgrades

Catch up on today's top five analyst downgrades with this list compiled by The Fly: 1. Hershey (HSY) downgraded to Underweight from Equal Weight by Morgan Stanley analyst Matthew Grainger, who said Hershey shares have meaningfully outperformed peers over the last twelve months, giving the stock a valuation premium well above its historical norm, though he does not believe that valuation gap can be maintained given the company's need for increased reinvestment paired with slowing category growth and share weakness. 2. Barclays (BCS) and Lloyds Banking (LYG) downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley by analyst Alvaro Serrano, who said that while he is more optimistic on its margin outlook than consensus he sees the stock having less room for a re-rating than peers given its current valuation. 3. IMAX (IMAX) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at Piper Jaffray by analyst Stan Meyers, who sees the stock being pressured by another wave of major estimate revisions for Q4 and 2018, continued loss of casual fans and an oversaturated market in China. The analyst lowered his 2018 box office expectations from growth of 18% to growth of 3%. 4. Alaska Air (ALK) downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays by analyst Joseph Wolf, who believes the company needs "close to flawless" execution as a minimum requirement for the shares to perform. He sees relatively high risk in the stock. 5. Big Lots (BIG) downgraded to Perform from Outperform at Oppenheimer. This list is just a portion of The Fly's full analyst coverage. To see The Fly's full Street Research coverage, click here.